Dark Divinity

Omen was not sure how long he had slept. The forest was tranquil yet depressing with a dense canopy above that obscured any view of the morning sky. He slowly lifted himself from the forest floor, wincing as the lingering agony in his joints reminded him of his previous battle. He gazed around the darkness, the calm almost unsettling after the chaos he had endured.

'Did I recklessly sleep out in the open... wait, I thought I wasn't able to sleep,' he pondered, his thoughts returning to the brief but fierce battle with the river bird. The memory was vivid, with each event starkly apparent in his mind.

"If I had known I was capable of killing it, I would have slain it a long time ago." The regret in his mind was apparent. He had underestimated himself, and it had cost him dearly. His thoughts quickly returned to the fact that he had fallen asleep, which he suspected he could no longer do.

It seems as though he was pushed beyond his threshold, he could end up completely exhausted. The understanding was both disconcerting and enlightening. He never imagined he would be in such a situation, but the proof was clear. His body had pushed him to fall asleep shutting down to recover from the exhaustion and emotional stress.

At least now he felt completely reinvigorated. Without further ado, he stood up and groaned as he examined himself in the darkness. Omen walked carefully, testing his limbs. The pain was still present, but it was feasible. His knees ached and his muscles felt on ablaze, nevertheless, he was still able to move around. He slowly began to walk. He needed to find a safe area where he could fully heal without fear of another ambush.

Omen paused by the river's side, taking in his surroundings. The forest here seemed quieter, almost tranquil. He bent down and dipped his hands in the icy water, soaking his face and feeling the pleasant chill seep into his bones. without hesitation, he took a scoop and drank.

He knew he didn't need it, but he wasn't ready to take any chances. Unlike food which could harm him if he ate it, water was different but still useless.

He had discovered the hard way that food was extremely dangerous to him; he had attempted to bite into the roasted squirrel a few nights ago and spat up a mouthful of blood. It was a terrifying realization at first, but he later realized it was relatively fair. After all, he passively absorbed the nutrition and energy of anything he killed while also stealing their powers, so forsaking his need for sustenance seemed a reasonable trade-off.

He steered his mind back to the river, its once-violent currents becoming more placid. Omen knelt by the water's edge, carefully removing his blood-soaked clothes. He barely recalled washing them but being unable to properly differentiate colours in the darkness he did an awful job of it. The cold water bit into his skin as he submerged the fabric, scrubbing away the dried blood and brain tissue. The water swirled red around him, carrying away the evidence of the battle.

He splashed his face once more, the cold shock bringing a sharp clarity to his mind. The morning air was cool against his damp skin, and for a moment, he felt almost peaceful.

Omen stood by the river, dressed in his freshly cleaned clothing, gazing out at the water. He took a long breath, fresh air filling his lungs, and turned back to face the forest.

He walked quietly through the forest, his movements light and purposeful. As he journeyed, his thoughts returned to Jacobi and his troops. The ambush, battle, and anguish all evoked strong memories. He had an appealing sense of purpose…almost tranquil.

As dawn broke, the first rays of sunshine penetrated the canopy, casting long shadows across the forest floor. The river glittered in the early morning light, and the woods began to stir with the sounds of woken creatures. The forest was still unusually calm, an eerie stillness settling over the trees and underbrush. Omen moved with heightened caution, suppressing his aura to avoid attracting any attention, a skill he learnt in the empire. The beasts of this realm tended to be malicious, especially around him, and he didn't want to invite any unnecessary encounters.

He hadn't walked for long before he came upon a serene lake, a tranquil spot where the river had diverged, its gentle waters still flowing into the lake. As he approached the lake, a sudden flame burning close to the water's edge caught his attention, startling him.

Sitting around the fire were Jacobi, Kan, and Clay. The sight of them sent a cold, intense wave of anger through Omen.

…..

Jacobi's features were stern as he spoke in low tones to the others. Kan and Clay listened intently; their expressions serious. The sight of them, relaxing and looking at ease, contrasted strongly with the chaos raging within Omen.

Omen's first thoughts were to kill them, which he swiftly discarded. He was still a few meters away, with the lake on his left. Despite being within their area of vision, he doubted they could see him through the shrubs. 'I only have to kill something and get a new skill; let's hope it's strong enough to take out all three of them.' With that final thought, he turned to walk away.

But fate was not on his side. As he stepped back, a dry twig snapped loudly under his foot, the sound piercing the quiet forest. Instantly, Clay's head snapped in his direction. Omen didn't need any confirmation to know that Clay had already activated his immobilization skill—he could feel it. His muscles locked, and he was unable to move. 'That bastard's eye Is still good. Is one of them a healer?'

Jacobi and Kan turned to face him, their eyes wide with recognition and amazement. Omen's heart hammered in his chest as he battled against the unseen bindings that kept him in place. He was trapped yet again.

Jacobi got to his feet, his look a mix of amusement and scorn. "Well, what do we have here? The brat survived by sneaking around like a rat."

Kan stood up as well, a smirk playing on his lips. "I never pitched you for a survivor, was it possible I mistook your importance?"

Clay remained seated, his focus entirely on maintaining the immobilization skill. "He's not going anywhere, not until I make him bleed so badly, he'll wish he was dead," he said, his voice far from calm. He still harboured ill intent for the damage Omen caused to his eyes.

Jacobi approached him, standing just a few feet away. "You should have stayed hidden kid. Now, you're going to explain to me how you survived that battle, I've seen that beast up close, and it's damn terrifying."

Omen's eyes burned with defiance, even as he remained immobilized. He wanted to scream, to lash out, but all he could do was glare at Jacobi. "This isn't over," he managed to say through gritted teeth.

Jacobi chuckled, shaking his head. "this again kid, you've got guts, how about you join us? I never let go of talented folks like you."

Kan stepped forward, pulling out a set of restraints. Those thick brown ropes he had once used to tie down Isolde "Let's make sure he doesn't get any ideas about escaping though."

As Kan secured the restraints around Omen's wrists and ankles, the immobilization skill began to fade. He could move again, but it was too late. The bindings were tight and unyielding, cutting into his skin. Omen struggled, but it was futile.

Jacobi leaned in close, his voice a harsh whisper. " I still don't know how you were able to summon the river bird but let me tell you if I sense even a flicker of that summoning aura of yours, it will be your last."

Moments later. Omen, bound and silent, moved with a chilling calm that belied his captivity. His hands were tied with coarse ropes, chafing his wrists, but his expression remained impassive. His eyes, dark and unreadable, flicked from Jacobi at the front to Kan behind him, and finally to Clay, who brought up the rear.

Clay, bringing up the rear, was perhaps the most crucial part of their formation. He possessed a rare and powerful ability to immobilize anything—or anyone—at a moment's notice. His focus never wavered from Omen, his fingers twitching slightly as he prepared to activate his power should the need arise.

The gang grappled on, the sun now high in the sky, pouring searing heat on them. Sweat ran down their faces, and hunger gnawed at their stomachs. Omen, on the other hand, appeared unconcerned about the discomfort, his countenance almost placid. He remembered how they had cowardly fled from the river bird, leaving behind the altered squirrels that had once belonged to him. The memories brought a twisted smile to his lips, as he realised he had transcended such mundane demands as hunger.

Jacobi, ever vigilant, caught the smile and turned his head sharply. "You better not try anything funny," he warned, suspicion etched into every line of his face.

"I wasn't trying to… though I'm interested in how you're going to quell your hunger," Omen replied, his voice dripping with mockery. His smile widened, knowing he had struck a nerve.

Kan, his patience worn thin by the boy's insolence, lunged forward and pushed Omen from the back. "Mind your words, kid!" he barked, his voice thick with anger. Omen staggered but quickly regained his balance, the smile never leaving his face.

"You think violence will solve your problems?" Omen taunted, his eyes flashing with a mixture of amusement and contempt. "It only makes you look desperate."

Jacobi stepped in, placing a hand on Kan's shoulder as the huge man was about to throw a punch Omen knew he wouldn't come out unscathed. "Enough," he said, his voice commanding but calm. "We need to stay focused. He wants us to lose control."

As they resumed their march, the forest around them seemed to grow darker, the shadows lengthening and deepening. The tension in the group was palpable as Jacobi gave the order.

"The kid is right. We need food, and I'm not a fan of cannibalism. Go with Clay and find something. I'll stay with the kid." Jacobi said, finally breaking the long silence.

Kan wanted to protest, but he saw the logic in Jacobi's words and the unwavering confidence in his eyes. Nothing could escape the boss. He nodded reluctantly, forcing Omen to sit down and securing his upper body to a nearby tree stump. The ropes bit into Omen's skin, but he showed no sign of discomfort. Kan and Clay exchanged glances, Clay's glare simmering with unspoken resentment before they disappeared into the forest, the underbrush rustling in their wake.

Jacobi settled down beside Omen, his massive frame casting a long shadow despite the dense canopy above. He looked every bit the formidable leader, his presence commanding and intimidating.

"You know, kid, I'm very sensitive to aura," Jacobi began his voice a low rumble that seemed to vibrate through the air. "That's why I escaped when the giant bird came. So, I'm still surprised—how did you survive?" His smile was anything but friendly, more a baring of teeth than an expression of warmth.

"I murdered it," Omen responded, openly gazing at Jacobi darkly. "You will soon join the river bird as well."